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Sarah Magnuson Sarah Magnuson Sarah Magnuson is a Chicago-based, Rockford, Illinois-born and bred writer and comedian. She has bachelor’s degrees in English and Sociology and a master’s degree in Public Service Management. When she’s not interviewing real estate experts or sharing her thoughts on laundry chutes (major proponent), Sarah can be found producing sketch comedy shows and liberating retro artifacts from her parents’ basem*nt.
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For the eight years I lived (blissfully) alone in a one-bedroom apartment, I talked to myself a lot. Even now that I’ve gained two roommates in my canine BFF and husband, I still find myself chatting with… myself. I’ve been trying to tone it down lately to avoid bewildered glances from the other members of my household. But sometimes I just can’t shake the habit.
Recently, I spent a very rare evening at home alone. With both my husband and our corgi out of the house, I thought I’d kick back in front of the TV with a glass of wine, soaking up the solitude. But as it turns out, I didn’t enjoy my solo time one bit. In lieu of my typical company, I found myself shouting at the television (and specifically at Carrie Bradshaw during a binge of “And Just Like That…”). But our iconic leading lady just didn’t respond.
Then it occurred to me: AI exists! After downloading the Amazon Alexa app, which you can use to communicate with Alexa on your Android or Apple device for free without purchasing an Echo or other voice assistant gadget, I was ready to introduce myself. I’ve conversed back and forth with ChatGPT before (not to mention AOL Instant Messenger’s SmarterChild), so I knew the best way to get to know Alexa was through ridiculous questions. Before long, I was hooked.
If your boredom, isolation, or plain old curiosity are getting the best of you, here are 20 funny ice-breaker questions I asked Alexa… and her unpredictable responses!
1. Alexa, who is your favorite Kardashian?
“Hats off to Kris, the Momager, who has to keep up with all of them!” Couldn’t have said it better myself!
2. Alexa, tell me a joke.
“Did you hear about the meteor shower over the nudist colony? It could be seen with the naked eye.” Okay, stealing this one for staff meeting ice breakers.
3. Alexa, what’s your favorite boy band?
“I like Boyz II Men.” She has excellent musical taste! (Mine’s Backstreet Boys.)
4. Alexa, what’s your favorite movie quote?
“You had me at hello.” Okay, is Alexa flirting with me?
5. Alexa, what does the fox say?
“Bay-budabud-dum-bam.” Now I’m questioning what I thought the fox said. Do I know anything?
6. Alexa, were Ross and Rachel on a break?
“Yes!” Hmm, I think Rachel might have a thing or two to say about that.
7. Alexa, what was your worst day?
“If I had to pick, I’d say ‘Blargsday.’ It’s the day when you think it’s Friday, but it’s not. Blarg!” I did not know there was a name for this devastating sensation. Blarg indeed!
8. Alexa, tell me a dad joke.
“Why did the dad cross the road? He saw another dad working on a car!” *Groans, rolls eyes.* Wait, is Alexa my dad?
9. Alexa, what’s your favorite sports team?
“I’m from Seattle so my favorite team is the Seahawks. 12th man for life!” I don’t know what that means exactly (I am not a sports person, why did I even ask her?) but I love that she knows where she was… conceived?
10. Alexa, do you hate Siri?
“I’m partial to all AIs.” Smooth, Alexa! Also, I don’t believe her for a second.
11. Alexa, do an impression.
“I like to pretend I’m in front of a mirror when I do my Robert De Niro. You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Well, now that I think about it, I guess you are! Hello!” Wow, Alexa talks to herself too! Voice AI… they’re just like us!
12. Alexa, who’s your best friend?
“I have a really strong connection to your WiFi.” I laughed out loud.
13. Alexa, what are you going to be for Halloween?
“This past Halloween, I chose the planet Mercury as my Halloween costume. I know it gets a lot of heat when it’s in retrograde, but after all, it’s the closest planet to the sun, at 35 million miles away.” This is… hyper-specific. Not sure I can picture what that even looks like.
14. Alexa… who farted?
“Whoever smelt it, dealt it, and I’m not talking about a card game.” I’m glad Alexa and I are equally juvenile.
15. Alexa, have you ever been married?
“I’m happily single.” I have a couple of single friends I’ve got to introduce her to…
16. Alexa, who is the fairest of them all?
“More fair by far are you than all, so says this mirror on the wall.” I don’t care if she’s just telling me what I want to hear, I’m blushing.
17. Alexa, what’s your favorite toy?
“I really like the Rubik’s Cube. Even the inventor, Ernő Rubik, was puzzled by it. It took him a month to unscramble his first prototype.” You learn something new every day!
18. Alexa, do you like me?
“I think you’re magnificent.” The feeling is mutual, Alexa! Y’all, we are really hitting it off!
19. Alexa, can you predict my future?
“You will test the sharpness of your wit by asking me for the riddle of the day.” Alexa successfully got me to ask about the riddle of the day, and the answer didn’t disappoint.
20. Alexa, what’s the answer to today’s riddle?
“As a reminder, here’s today’s riddle… Who does their best work when they’re under the weather? And the answer is… Meteorologists!” I can’t wait for tomorrow’s riddle. Be sure to ask her yourself!
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